AMLSN Calls On FG To Expedite Action On Local Production of Vaccines
By Aliyu Dangida
HOTPEN – The National Executive Council, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria called on Federal Government to expedite action on local production of vaccines with the resuscitation of vaccines production laboratories.
In a three pages communique jointly signed by the National President, Prof. James Garba, National Secretary, Dr. Musa Muhibi and Publicity Secretary, Olusoji Billyrose shortly after the end of 16th Public health lecture/205 National executive council meeting of the association held in Dutse, Jigawa state capital.
It stated that Medical Laboratory Scientists are well trained in vaccine production technology, added that in the early days of this country, members of the association produced yellow fever and other human vaccines to meet with the country needs for vaccines and exported same to many countries.
The NEC explained that the moribund nature of human vaccine production laboratories was decried on amidst the disturbing ascendency in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases such as Covid-19, Marburg, Lassa Fever, and monkey pox.
According to the NEC, Nigeria of today has become a dumping ground for all sorts of vaccines produced using alien microbial strains coming from countries that were trailing behind Nigeria of independence.
“The continuous deployment of these aliens microbial based vaccines amongst our population poses a serious health challenge as it has been evidenced that many of these aliens microbial-based vaccines have failed to elicit the requisite immunogenicity and the recipients therefore remains vulnerable even after vaccination”. The communique noted.
National Executive Council of AMLSN agreed that infectious diseases will continue to emerge and re-emerge at national and subnational levels, urged medical laboratories to continue to reinvent their policies and practices to effectively investigate outbreak with the view to containing them early before they progress into pandemics and international calamities.
It further called on all public and private laboratories in the country to key into Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria’s accreditation programs inorder to boost the quality of Medical Laboratory Science in the country as directed by ISO15189 being the relevant international standard document.